In Vitro Culture of Metroxylon Sagu the Sago Palm - a Preliminary Study

Abstract

The sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) is an under-exploited starch storing
tropical crop which has great commercial potential.
Excised embryos of this palm were cultured in vitro for the first
time. Suitable sterilization methods, media, addenda and cultural conditions
for normal development of embryos and for callus production from excised
embryos were investigated. As a large number of fruit (1000 - 2000) were collected at each harvest and owing to the recalcitrant nature of the enclosed
seeds, a suitable method for storage of the fruit prior to use was also investigated. Storage of fruit in perforated polythene bags in a cold room (4°C)
was found to be a suitable method of storage for these fruit. However,
the storage period was only two weeks, after which the viability of the
excised embryos deteriorated rapidly. 10% Clorox for 25 minutes was
found to be a suitable sterilization procedure for the excised embryos.
On Tisserat and DeMason's (1980) medium containing either 2.0 - 2.5 mgr
1 NAA and 0.2 mgl⁻¹ BAP or 1.5 mgl⁻¹ 2, 4-D and 0.2 mgl⁻¹ 2iP in the
presence of 3 gl⁻¹ activated charcoal normal shoot and root development
of excised embryos was obtained when cultures were incubated in the light
at 28°C- 29°C. On a similar basal medium containing either 25 mgl⁻¹ NAA
or 15 mgl⁻¹ 2, 4-D or 10 mgl⁻¹ 2, 4-D in combination with 1mgl⁻¹ 2iP,
in the absence of charcoal, excised embryos began to form callus. Callus
formation occurred both in the light and in the dark in these media containing
NAA, while in media containing only 2, 4-D or 2, 4-D in combination with
2iP, callus production was promoted in the dark.